This Years Melbourne Cup is more than just a race, its the remembrance of the great Bart Cummings

The race that stops the nations and now the world is arguably the biggest horse race on Australia’s calendar and is set to have another exciting affair this Tuesday.

However unlike previous years, this will be the first time in 57 years that a certain someone will not be involved in the great race.

So not only will this year be about the race, but something more as well. The remembrance of the ‘Cup King’ in Bart Cummings.

The great man who tragically passed away earlier this year at the age of 87 highlights the first year in the post Cummings era for the race.

Even people who were not racing enthusiasts knew who this man was. He always had modesty upon him and will forever be part of the Cup fabric through his enormous love and passion he had for his horses.

He had won the Cup a record 12 times, with the last being Viewed in 2008. Not only that but he also had trained both the winner and runner ups on a record five separate occasions (1965, 1966, 1974, 1975 and 1991).

The records that this man has left also includes most entries (89), most wins (12), most seconds (6), most thirds (4), most fourths (5) and most top-eight finishers (47).

Out of all his winners, he had a 13.5% winning strike rate and 24.7% place percentage. With trainers like Chris Waller and Gai Waterhouse struggling to find a winner, it’s astonishing that this man had such a high percentage.

After receiving his training license in 1953, it didn’t take long for him to have a runner, with his first being Asian Court in 1958.

12 years later and he achieved his first Cup with Light Fingers in 1965 where his dynasty began. He then won his last with Viewed in one of the closest finishes in history on his 50th anniversary of having entrants.

Away from the racing spectacle, he also trained 266 Group One winners and had 758 stakes victories among nearly 7,000 winners. He also won seven Caulfield Cups, five Cox Plates and four Golden Slippers.

However while his records and results highlight his superiority, his demeanour and passion has left an even bigger hole in the racing community.

Unfortunately a Cummings horse will not race in the great staying spectacle after Precedence did not make the cut, however this race serves as the 50th anniversary of the King’s first ever victory.

Not only will the Melbourne Cup this year be great viewing, but it will also be a great reminder on the man that transcended the whole industry.

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